» For the former town, see Garlic, California.'' Allium sativum, commonly known as garlic,'s a species in the onion family Alliaceae. Its close relatives include the onion, shallot, leek, and chive. Garlic has been used throughout recorded history for both culinary and medicinal purposes. It's a characteristic pungent, spicy flavor that mellows and sweetens considerably with cooking. A bulb of garlic, the most commonly used part of the plant,'s divided into numerous fleshy sections called clove… (More on Garlic)